Two Eastern Cape MECs fired

Eastern Cape Premier Nosimo Balindlela says the assignment of social development MEC Thokozile Xasa to take over from health MEC Bevan Goqwana is an interim measure to immediately stabilise the province’s health department. Goqwana was sacked yesterday. Last week the Grahamstown-based public service accountability monitor said that Goqwana shared responsibility for the poor performance of the health department. Economic affairs MEC André de Wet was also fired yesterday. At the end of last month Balindlela stripped De Wet of authority over the troubled Eastern Cape Development Corporation.